A/N Another long chapter! I can't tell you all how much I appreciate your reviews and feedback. I tried to respond to everyone personally but I couldn't thank the guests or kim4tisntobias4ever, so thank you very much for reading and reviewing! To the guest who asked me not to abandon this story I promise I've got it all planned out and I won't be giving up.
Peter's Texts look like This
And just in case there was any doubt I do not own Divergent or the characters you recognize from it. I'm just having fun with them for my own personal enjoyment (and maybe yours too).
In the aftermath of Tris' birthday party Eric woke completely un-rested and with a raging headache. After talking too much to Caleb he had walked Tris back to their building. The whole time she was closed off, guarded, much the way she had been in the months after Tobias left her. She had thanked him profusely for all he'd done for her that night and kissed him gingerly before reminding him of the rules when he tried to deepen the kiss. He was convinced that Tobias said something to hurt her, but she brushed him off and sent him on his way. After rehashing the night in his head Eric dragged himself out of bed and into the shower. He stood under the running water for a long time without much purpose. As the warm water eased the pounding in his head and soothed his aching neck he thought about Tris and their arrangement. Maybe when they got into this he hadn't really understood his own mind but now he knew that Caleb had been right. His feelings for Tris had been there, under the surface, maybe in someway since she had been in the academy. He'd always said that he was over protective of her because she was his friend, and then his partner. His excuse had become that he felt guilty for letting her get hurt, she needed a shoulder to lean on after Eaton left, and then that he needed her to get his business off the ground. He had relationships, some short and two long term, since he met her and they almost all ended because the other women wanted Tris pushed out of the picture. His forehead dropped to the cool white tiles and he groaned. There was no other option than to be honest with her. He told himself he needed one more night to really commit all of her to memory in case she walked away.
When he was dressed in a pair of black sweats and a CPD hoodie he pulled on his sneakers and grabbed the gift wrapped box with Tris's name on it. The walk down to her apartment had his palms sweating and his heart racing. When he reached her door he took a deep calming breath and lifted his hand to knock.
Tris opened the door a few seconds later. "Hey Eric," she greeted him tightly before stepping out of the way to let him in.
"Happy Birthday." He bent to kiss her on the cheek after she shut the door behind him. "I didn't get to give you this yesterday." He handed her the small wrapped box.
She looked up at him questioningly before accepting it, "You did so much yesterday you didn't need to do this."
He took her in as she walked to the couch she had on black track pants and a white tank top thin enough that he could see the black of her rib tattoo through the fabric. Her hair pulled back into a bun with no make up. It would never cease to amaze him that this was how he found her most attractive. "Eric?" Her voice broke his thoughts and he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, what?" He asked.
She was looking at him concerned, "I asked if you were going to sit.."
"Yeah, sorry." He took his usual seat in the arm chair across from her and watched as she turned the box in her hand end over end. "Are you going to open it, or just play with it?" He asked laughing.
"I'll open it in a little bit." She dropped the box next to her and pulled her feet up under her. "I want to know how you pulled last night off without me knowing."
"I told you Christina helped a lot." He told her.
She laughed and shook her head, "You get three days at best of secret keeping from Chris, and you know it. So she helped at the end, but you did most of that alone."
He shrugged and leaned back in the chair, "I did most of it at work, Shh don't tell my partner." He put a finger over his lips and smiled.
"You're terrible. I want you to know that Caleb and my parents and I are all so grateful that you brought him in for this. He's been so homesick and we've all missed him. He's heading back tomorrow much happier." She told him picking at imaginary lint from the cushion next to her.
"I'm glad I could make you all happy." He smiled.
She pointed at the box, "Which is why I can't accept whatever that is. You have already given me more than I should ever expect from you."
He got up and sat on the other side of the sofa facing her and picked up the box, "You don't expect anything which is why I think you deserve it all. You would do all of this and more for anyone. Me, Chris, Lynn, hell I think you'd even do it for Peter." He laughed and she pushed him a little. "You deserve to get a little spoiled once in a while. Besides you never let me buy you birthday gifts consider this," he handed her the box, "Nine years worth of birthday gifts."
She looked at him sideways and took the box, "I still don't want to open it yet."
"You don't ever have to open it, but I assure you you'd be missing out," he promised her.
"So you invited Morgan, are you seeing her again?" Tris asked abruptly.
Eric shook his head, "I didn't invite her, she just happened to be there."
"She's nothing like Ella, or Victoria," Tris observed mentioning both his long term relationships. "Or anyone you've ever dated really."
"No, nothing like anyone I've been with. That was kind of the point." He said.
Tris played with her lip ring absently drawing his attention to her mouth. "So are you still seeing her?"
Eric shook his head, "No. She just wasn't clear on that until last night."
"I didn't like her." Tris wrinkled her nose and laughed.
Eric smiled and said, "I didn't either. So you and Four seemed to be getting along last night. Christina said you went outside together for a bit."
"Don't call him that," She scolded. "It just got too loud, I needed some air and he walked me out. He apologized for how things ended. He said he had his reasons but he didn't want to talk about it while we were drinking." She explained.
Eric rolled his eyes and said, "I'm sure he did. Look you're a grown woman I can't make your choices for you but he is so bad for you."
"Eric, we just had a conversation. You saw us talking you could have interrupted if you were so concerned, instead you took the queen of the eyeliner trolls outside." She snapped at him.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a frustrated growl, "So are you mad that I spoke to someone I've slept with, or that I minded my own business and let you talk to the scum of the Earth because both things I did because you insist on them."
"I never told you to sleep with bar skanks, I told you to date nice girls who could be more to you than sex. That's the whole point of our arrangement. We're the mindless sex until you find the right girl." She yelled at him.
What he wanted to yell was that he'd found the right girl, that the bar skank was a feeble attempt at proving to himself that he wasn't in love with his best friend, that if she would stop forcing him to date he wouldn't so much as look at another woman. Instead what he said was, "I'm going to go running, I just wanted to give you your gift." As he stood and walked towards the door. "Open it when you're ready."
When he got half way to the door he felt her hand on his elbow, "Eric don't leave like this. I'm sorry. I just don't want to see you waste your time with women so obviously beneath you."
He turned to her and offered her a weak smile, "I promise no more bar skanks." He pulled her into a strong hug taking in the subtle scent of her shampoo and relaxing into her when he felt her arms wrap around him. "I'm really going running, am I still allowed to come to dinner tonight?" She nodded and let him go.
That evening Eric had dinner the the Priors. They spent it in a small quiet restaurant sharing plates of food and too much wine. As the end of the night approached Eric was sitting next to Caleb with his elbows propped on the table his chin resting on his thumbs his tented forefingers over his lips watching Tris and her mother laugh. Caleb nudged him from his reverie and offered more wine. Eric nodded and sat back. "I owe you for this weekend." Caleb said.
"You don't owe me anything." Eric told him.
Caleb looked at him and went on, "To be honest I owe you for more than a plane ticket. I know I said a lot of horrible things to you when Tris got hurt." Eric waved him off but Caleb went on. "You saved her life, I knew it but I needed someone to blame. Thank you for keeping her here."
"You know it was a bit selfish." Eric said when he realized Mr. Prior was watching them he added, "I didn't want to get fired for failure to provide emergency medical treatment." Just then he looked over to Tris and her mother who's conversation had taken a turn for the worse. Mrs. Prior's lips were pursed and Tris looked defensive.
"Why on Earth would you consider that Beatrice." Mrs. Prior hissed.
Tris looked angry and embarrassed now that everyone was watching them, "Mom it's really not a big deal. It's just a charity function. We're both going anyway."
"You're giving him the impression he's been forgiven." Her mother said.
"Wait what's going on?" Eric asked confused.
Natalie turned to him her blue eyes meeting his with the hope that he would be the voice of reason. "Beatrice just told me that Tobias Eaton called her to wish her a happy birthday, which I'm surprised he even remembered, and to ask if she would attend the American Heart Association fundraiser with him. The best part is that she's agreed. Tell me Eric, how is this even happening don't you two normally attend these things together?"
Whoa how was he in trouble for this? He was going to kill Eaton slowly and painfully. Mr. Prior put his hand over his wife's and patted it gently, "Actually Mrs. Prior we have two events the same night, I will be representing Dauntless and supporting Christina and Will at an auction he's involved in. This is the first I've heard about Tobias." He gave Tris a pointed look, "He's our biggest client, and Tris is a responsible intelligent woman. If she thinks this is a good idea I need to trust her judgement." His voice was tight and the look he gave Tris suggested he did not in fact trust her judgement.
As Eric helped Tris into her coat a short time later he leaned in to speak softly and avoid being over heard, "When did he call?" Tris stiffened and cleared her throat. She was going to lie and that was her tell. "Don't answer me if you're just going to lie." He snapped as he gently lifted her hair out of her collar.
Another uncomfortable walk back to their building ended with Eric saying one more happy birthday and a short good night. He slammed his apartment door shut and threw his jacket violently onto the couch before he started to pace. When did this happen? How was this happening? Eaton had found his way back in and Eric was at a complete loos for what to do. Telling Tris he loved her now would look like a desperate ploy to undermine Eaton. He dropped to the couch with his head in his hands and resigned himself to the fact that this entire situation was spiraling beyond his control.
Eric managed to avoid seeing Tris again until Monday afternoon's staff meeting. She walked into the conference room in a cream colored skirt that hit the middle of her thighs, a fitted green sweater, and brown boots to her knees a scarf tied around her neck. Her hair was in soft waves and she wore very little make up. It was likely no one else noticed but Eric could tell she had slept very little. Her expression was vacant as she sat down beside him. She put her coffee cup down and pulled out a pen. A short stiff Hi was all she offered.
Eric shifted uncomfortably beside her before returning the greeting.
"It's suddenly very cold in here." Peter's voice cut through the tension. Eric shot him a dark threatening look and he immediately shut up.
The meeting was short, each team leader filling them in on what was happening with their clients. When Peter began to talk about Eaton Industries Eric almost snapped the pen in his hand and Tris' eyes shifted to her hands. When it was over Eric left the room for his office without a word. He closed his door and pulled the knives from his drawer. Eric was turning one over in his hands and tracing the blade over the wood of his desk when a soft knock on his door interrupted is thoughts and he called for them to come in. The door opened and Tris stepped through closing it tightly behind her.
She gestured to the chair in front of his desk and asked, "Can I sit?"
"You own half the office you can pretty much do whatever you want," he bit out at her.
She looked wounded by his tone and he wanted to not care but the truth was it hurt him to see her react to him like that. "Eric, this isn't us. We don't shut each other out and we don't speak to each other like we're trying to draw blood." She sighed a little as she dropped into the chair.
He watched as her pale legs crossed over one another and the very end of her scar appeared from under her skirt. "We never lied to one another or hid things either. You threw that out the window Saturday, I thought we were changing things up."
"What is your problem?" She snapped. "I don't owe you explanations on who I choose to spend time with."
"My problem is my business partner suddenly thinks its a good idea to date a client, with whom she already has a bad history," he growled back burying the blade into the wood beneath his hand.
Tris threw her hands up in frustration, "I am not dating him! We're both going to this fundraiser he asked if I wanted him to pick me up, considering Peter's the one driving him. We were already seated at the same table. It's not a date it's just a business function you paranoid idiot."
"You can't possibly be that naive. You really believe that there's nothing more than business behind him constantly asking you out?" Eric rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Eric he left me years ago without so much as a second thought. He's not looking for more than forgiveness and a business relationship. He didn't want me when I was younger, thinner, and less complicated. He's certainly not going to want me now," She yelled at him.
"Do you even hear yourself? This is what this asshole does to you. Younger? You're barely thirty. Thinner? I picked you up two days ago you weigh nothing! Less complicated? You aren't complicated now! He makes you feel like you aren't good enough when the reality is he never fucking deserved you in the first place." Eric was on his feet his hands in his hair as he turned away from her. "You've built a successful business from the ground up. You're absolutely selfless, considerate and kind. Drop dead gorgeous and amazing in bed. Walking away from you was the biggest mistake he ever made."
He turned to look at her again and she had her sleeves pulled down over her hands, her face turned down, tears in her eyes, and she was shaking her head. "You have to say those things you're my friend. The truth is he's always been out of my league and I couldn't keep him. I don't want him back, I'm not looking for that. I just need to hear why he left without saying goodbye I need to put closure to it and then he'll just be a client."
He let the rage take over him for a second at the sound of her saying she wasn't good enough. He let out a violent sound as he ripped the knife from his desk top and threw it at the dart board. "I can't watch you make this mistake it's going to fucking kill me." He said resigning himself to her decision. "I need to take a walk, and I'm taking the rest of the afternoon off. I will see you in the morning." With that he was gone.
The rest of the week was tense and quiet. There was an unspoken agreement that they wouldn't speak of Tobias Eaton or the weekends events. Christina had called him Wednesday evening asking him to spend Friday evening as her escort since Will would be working and he agreed instantly. She tried to talk about Tris but he changed the subject. When Friday rolled around it was almost a relief to think it would all be over and tomorrow he could find Tris and hopefully 'make up' from their argument.
He dressed in a dark grey suit and white shirt and as he knotted his tie his door bell rang. He crossed the apartment and opened the door to find Tris standing in the hall wearing a vintage red dress that hit just below her knees and four inch stilettos that made her legs go on forever with a bow at the back. Her hair was curled and loose. Her eyes done smokey and dramatic with her lips the same shade of red that he'd wanted to mess up on her birthday. "You look good." He told her as she walked in brushing past him.
"Can we come back here tonight, after all of this chaos is over? We'll leave our parties early, meet here, drink too much, and make up. Please?" She asked him as she moved in closer.
Eric looked into her eyes, and the faint smell of her perfume hit him, he couldn't say no. It took all he had not to tell her fuck the parties. "We'll make our appearances and stay long enough to make everyone happy and the come back here and I can fuck you senseless again." He laughed as he pulled her into a hug and lifted her off the ground as she laughed weakly. He held her gaze for a long minute before he leaned in close to her and at the last second kissed her cheek. "Wouldn't want to ruin your lipstick."
She swatted his arm and pulled out of his arms. "Ass. I have to meet Tobias downstairs, Peter said he'd be here by 7:00. Have fun with Chris, and congratulate Will for me."
Eric was standing at the bar with Christina wondering how the fuck this whole week had added up to this night that was already feeling like it would never end. He'd been getting texts from Peter every half hour as he'd instructed and so far it was a lot of nothing. So when he felt his phone vibrate he didn't rush to pull it from his pocket. At the same time he saw Christina pull out her phone. When she read the screen all the life drained from her face. "Chris are you OK?" He pulled out his phone and read the text message from Peter.
Taking them to the hospital, it's Tris.
Eric wasn't sure he could keep his feet beneath him and for a minute he had to lean on the wall to stay upright. He never wanted to be in a hospital with Tris again this couldn't be happening. When Eric's faculties returned he dialed Peter's number and waited the agonizing seconds until he answered. "Little busy Mr. Coulter, what can I do for you?"
"What hospital and how far out are you?" Eric snapped
"Northeastern Memorial, and I'm about to turn onto Fairbanks so less than five minutes." Peter said. "I'm hanging up I will see you there."
Eric shoved his phone back in his pocket and dragged Christina out. They were at least twenty minutes away and that was if he could get his car from the valet quickly. The drive down 41 should have been scenic, and maybe it was, but all Eric could see was red as he went through every scenario in his head for how a night at a charity event with Eaton could have sent her to an emergency room.
Christina's voice broke the tense silence, "Eric if Peter's driving her, if they didn't call 911, it can't be too bad. "
He nodded but kept his eyes on the road and his foot on the gas.
Twenty minutes later Eric pulled up to the entrance of the emergency room. He pushed the button to stop the engine and raced from the car into the waiting area where he saw Four in a black tuxedo leaning casually against a wall. He wasn't even in with her. Eric lost all sense of reason and rushed towards him. "You son of a bitch, what did you do to her?" He screamed. Just as he was about to grab Tobias by the jacket two thin but strong arms grabbed his and there was a rush of force that propelled him into the wall face first as Tobias jumped out of the way. Peter was behind him holding him against the wall speaking calmly into his ear.
"Eric take it down a notch. There's two cops fifty feet to our left and they're already watching you." When Eric's arms relaxed Peter released his hold and let Eric turn around.
"What happened?" Eric asked.
Tobias was already a good distance away but Eric shot a look over Peter's shoulder that threatened death. Peter started to explain, "They left the main ballroom, I followed at a distance but didn't keep visual when he took her around a corner." Eric gave him a look but he defended himself, "It's not my job to stop her from living. Eaton had his arm around her and she was giggling at him." Eric's fists balled tighter and a low growl started in his throat. Peter decided to continue anyway. "I couldn't see them but I knew Tris had been drinking so I kept them in earshot just in case. I heard him mumbling something and I heard her say his name. It was quiet for a few seconds and then I heard her yelp in pain, so I turned the corner. Eaton was sitting on a half wall, Tris had her back to him and she had her skirt hiked up looking at her leg. I called her name and she just told me we needed to get to an Emergency room." Peter ran his hands forcefully through his short dark hair. "She looked so scared, I wanted to leave his ass there but she said it was OK. She wouldn't let him or me back there with her."
Eric looked at Eaton again who had taken up the same casual stance with his hands in his pants pockets studying the floor. He scanned the room for Christina but she was gone. "I'm good. Nice stop by the way." He complimented Peter. "I'm going to try to get in to see her." Peter nodded and let him pass. The nurse at the desk informed him that Christina was already back there and only one visitor was allowed at a time in emergency. She also wouldn't give him any information since he wasn't family and her release forms hadn't been signed yet.
"I'm her medical proxy," he explained angrily.
The nurse looked at him sideways for a second and then told him, "She's alert and conscious that means nothing. If that changes you'll be the first to know." She gave him a sarcastic smile and went back to what she was doing.
He dropped down into an empty seat and let his head fall as he yanked out the knot in his tie. This night was supposed to end with Tris and bourbon and that incredible red dress in a wrinkled pile on his floor, not here with Eaton looking at him like a lost puppy in an emergency department.
Just as he was about to stand and start pacing Christina came through the doors and headed for Eric, when Tobias walked up behind her she gave him a frustrated look and turned back to Eric. "She's asking for you." Christina told Eric and she put an arm out to stop him from running in there, "She's going to be fine, just remember to keep calm." Eric nodded and Christina let him pass.
Eric was pointed towards a closed curtain by a passing nurse who looked him over thoroughly before sending him on his way. He pulled back the ugly fabric a small amount and looked around it to find Tris sitting up on a gurney in a hospital gown. Her red satin dress and black stilettos sitting on a chair. She was still wearing her make up but her hair that had been perfectly curled was pulled up in a messy bun and he noticed for the first time she had the diamond earrings he'd given her for her birthday in her ears. She must have heard his movements because she looked over at him and gave him a weak smile. He fought the urge to rush over and kiss her forcefully. Instead he walked over and dropped into the chair next to her picking up her hand as he did. "Life's been a little boring, you thought we needed a little excitement?" He asked.
She gave a small laugh before he saw tears roll from her eyes. "Hey don't do that, you're OK." He rushed to get up and lean over her in a hug. Her fingers wrapped themselves in his suit jacket and he felt her body start to shake as she sobbed into his chest. He couldn't make out everything she said just words here and there, "...kissed me... stopped...touched my leg... stabbing pain... bruise... so scared.."
He pulled back and brushed the stray hair from her face as she struggled to catch her breath. "Tris you need to slow down, and tell me that again because what that sounded like is me killing Eaton."
Tris took a shaky watery breath and held Eric's hand tighter. "I didn't eat today I was so busy, so when I had a drink I started to feel loopy. Tobias walked me out of the ballroom to a quieter area and when I said I was feeling a little better he leaned over and kissed me. I stopped him and he ran his hand over my leg." Eric's hand twitched so she rushed to continue. "It was just a gesture not an advance. But when his hand hit my scar there was this insane stabbing pain in my leg. I jumped up and turned away from him. I lifted my skirt and there was this huge bruise around the middle of my scar." She fought another wave of tears and he traced circles on her hand with his thumb. "I was so scared. Peter must have been right there he came in and we left to come here. I texted Chris, I saw Peter pull out his phone. I knew he'd been texting you all night, I figured he was telling you. Then I heard you call him in the car."
Eric pulled her hand to his face and kissed her knuckles. "You scared the shit out of me." He told her dropping his forehead on their entwined hands.
She took her free hand and ran her nails over the short buzzed hair at the back of his head. "Sorry."
He looked up at her resting his chin on their hands, his eyes welling with tears. "You should be. Jesus Christ. What did the doctors say?" He sucked in a deep breath and tried to compose himself.
"They did a sonogram, looks like there's a small tear in the graft that started to bleed. It will heal on it's own but I'm stuck here until it does, and then I'm stuck on bed rest for a week after." She explained.
"Did they say what caused it?" He asked.
"Could be that I ran a little too hard this morning and I've been wearing 4 inch heels all day. Could have been a small blood clot from the birth control. Or it could have been a spike in blood pressure at some point. There's really no way to know exactly what it was." She told him calmly.
"Do you have to worry that this could happen again? Should you stop taking birth control? Maybe you should just walk in the mornings. " He rambled.
She smiled at him and took her hand back to pull her hair from its messy bun and retie it tighter. "Relax Eric everything is fine. I don't have to change anything right now. This was always a possible complication. The doctors are convinced it's just a fluke. The surgeon will be here in the morning to talk to me."
"You're too laid back about this. Do you know what could have..." She cut him off with a hand over his mouth.
"Go have a cup of coffee, talk to Christina, and can you send Peter back? I want to thank him," she instructed.
Eric nodded and kissed her forehead before leaving her there. He went to the waiting area and walked right past Tobias to Peter, "She wants you Peter. Eaton you outside with me." He said not even turning to him. Eric stalked out the front doors to the sidewalk and waited for Tobias to follow.
When the other man was standing opposite him Eric shoved his hands in his pockets and started to talk. "You're not my client, your hers and this should in no way impact that." Eaton nodded. "I don't think its a secret that I hate you."
"No, it's not. Nor is it a secret that you aren't my favorite of her friends." Was Tobias' response.
"That's a shame because I'm pretty sure I'm her favorite friend." Eric retorted. "Even if I put aside that you never made her a priority for 6 years, I can't ever forget that you disappeared without a word while she was lying in one of these fucking beds trying to stay alive." It was obvious that Eric really just wanted to hit him and get it over with. "You never even tried to see her, to make sure she was Ok. So what the fuck are you doing showing up and trying to weasel your way back in?"
"You know nothing." Eaton snapped back. Eric looked at him with nothing but contempt but Tobias continued,"I was here the first night when they brought her out of surgery. I went up to the ICU and when I got to her room I looked through the window. I'm sure you didn't see me, but I saw you. Kneeling next to her bed, kissing her hands, crying. I also heard you talking to her. I heard you telling her you loved her, that if she woke up you would tell her." Tobias looked broken and Eric couldn't believe anyone had heard him. "I knew that I was no competition for you. You were her best friend, her partner, and you had just saved her life. She didn't recognize it for what it was, but she was in love with you too. I had seen it all along and I kept her at a distance because I figured it was only a matter of time. I was sure that when she woke up, and you actually acted on what I'd known was there all along I was done. I walked away to let her have you. Then a year later I see the bullshit about you and that trust fund princess plastered all over the tabloids. I hired that shit company knowing they would fuck up and I would be able to use that as an excuse to get close again by hiring you. I would finally have a second chance to show her I loved her, that I was sorry for how things happened and I wanted her in my life. I gave you your chance and you blew it. Now I intend to make up for lost time."
A/N I'm sure some of you hate me now. Eric didn't kill Tobias but maybe he doesn't deserve it as much as we thought he did? Let me know what you thought!
